Register to start campaigning
Candidates and groups contesting state or Local Government elections must not accept political donations or make payments for electoral expenditure before being nominated for the election unless they first register with the NSW Electoral Commission.
Find out more about registering as a candidate or group of candidates by watching the video below.
On this page
How to register
The registration of a candidate or group is a separate process to the candidate or group being nominated for the election in order to have their name printed on the ballot paper.
Apply to be registered as a candidate or group using Funding and Disclosure Online. Registrations close on the same day as the close of nominations for an election.
A candidate or group is registered once the NSW Electoral Commission has processed the registration application. The candidate or group is not permitted to accept political donations or pay for electoral expenditure until registered, or until they are nominated for the election. Candidates and groups are notified of their registration in writing by the NSW Electoral Commission.
Nomination process:
Registration periods
The registration period for a state general election starts after polling day for the previous state general election. For a state by-election, the registration period starts on a day determined by the NSW Electoral Commission but not after the day the writ is issued.
The registration period for a local government general election starts after polling day for the previous local government general election. For a local government by-election, the registration period starts on a day determined by the NSW Electoral Commission but not after the day the rolls close for the election.
Registration applies for one election only. Those contesting multiple elections must register separately for each election.
Political donations and electoral expenditure
Candidates and groups do not need to apply for registration for an election if no political donations are received and no payments for electoral expenditure are made.
Candidates and groups that do not apply to be registered are taken to be registered when they are nominated for the election. For state general elections and by-elections, this is on the day the candidate or group validly lodges their nomination forms.
For local government elections and by-elections, this is usually the day after the close of nominations prior to the ballot paper draw. From the time of nomination, all candidates are permitted to accept political donations and make payments for electoral expenditure.
Political donations and electoral expenditure are strictly regulated, and it is an offence to make or accept unlawful political donations, or to exceed the caps that apply to political donations and electoral expenditure.
Register of candidates
The registered details of candidates and groups are included in a publicly available register called the Register of Candidates. A copy of the register for each election is published on the NSW Electoral Commission website.
If the registered details of a candidate or group change, the candidate or group must notify the NSW Electoral Commission of those changes within 30 days.
- Learn more about accepting and using political donations
- Learn more about making payments for electoral expenditure
Amend the register
Registered candidates and groups must notify the NSW Electoral Commission of any changes to their registered details within 30 days of the change occurring. Penalties apply for failure to notify the NSW Electoral Commission of any such change within the prescribed time frame.
Once notified, the NSW Electoral Commission will amend the registered details of the candidate or group.
Notify the NSW Electoral Commission of a change in registered details using Funding and Disclosure Online or contact us to request a "change in registered details" form.
The NSW Electoral Commission may notify the registered candidate or group, in writing, if it believes the candidate or group has failed to notify of any changes to registered details.
The NSW Electoral Commission may cancel the registration of a candidate or group if not notified of changes to registered details within the required time frame.
The NSW Electoral Commission can change or remove registered details of a candidate or group if satisfied they are not correct. In such cases, the NSW Electoral Commission is required to notify the candidate or group.